Compressor



June 27, 1933. B. HOFFMANN 1,915,997

COMPRES SOR Filed July 25, 1951 ITh/GHTOT Bruno 'HofFmann Hi 5 Arror'ne Patented June 27, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRUNO HOFFMANN, OF SPANDAU-WEST, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK COMPRESSOR Application filed July 25, 1931, Serial No.

The present invention refers to compressors, particularly to that type of compressors in which a valve is provided in the suction conduit for regulating the amount of a1r or gas, and in which the air or gas of a high pressure stage is returned through a et apparatus to the suction conduit in order to prevent pulsations of the compressor and to secure proper regulation While the compressor is operated at partial load,

The object of my invention is an improved arrangement of a jet apparatus in the inlet conduit of the compressor.

For a consideration of what I believe to'be novel and my invention, attention is d rected to the following description and claims in connection with the drawing appended hereto, in which I have shown a compressor partly in cross section and partly broken away, embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, in WhlCh have illustrated by way of example a multi-stage air compressor, 2 represents the outer casing of the compressor, 3 and 4 designate impellers secured to a shaft 5 which is supported by a bearin 6 at its left end and provided with a suita le packing 7 to prevent leakage between the shaft and the casing. 8 is the suction conduit in which a regulating valve is provided, in the present instance indicated as a butterfly valve 9. 10 represents the outletconduit of the compressor. 11 1s a bypass provided with a valve means 12 through which compressed air is fed through a chamber 13 to the inlet conduit of the compressor. 14 designates an air-collecting chamber to which compressed air may be supplied by means of a suitable conduit 15 provided with a valve means 16 from one of the lower stages of the compressor or from the cold air chamber of the first intermediate cooler, not shown in the drawing. The collecting chamber 14 is provided with a number of orifices 17 connecting it with the first stage of the comlecting chamber 14:, whence it is passed through orifices to the first stage of the com- I 553,171, and. in Germany August 7, 1930.

fly valve which in a certain position closes the main part of the inlet conduit and at the same time is adapted to form a part of the jet apparatus. In the drawing I have indicated the butterfly valve member at 18 in dash-dotted lines while in entirely open position and in cross-hatched section while in a position in which it forms, together with wall 19 of the inlet conduit, a part of a jet apparatus. It will be seen that in this position the valve member 9 closes the air inlet at 20 and that the cross section of the jet as indicated at 21 can be regulated within relatively wide limits by turning the valve member 9 around shaft 22. The regulation of the compressed air fed to the jet apparatus is in the present instance accomplished by the provision of the throttling valve 12 and one or more nozzles 23 through which the air supply can be regulated by properly arranged valves 24. This regulation may be performed manually by hand wheels 25 secured to the stems 26 of said valves 24.

The operation of my mechanism is as follows: If the demand for compressed air reaches a certain minimum value the butterfly valve 9 is turned in a position as shown in the drawing and valves 12 and 'nozzles 23 are opened, to the effect that compressed air is supplied to the jet formed by butterfly valve disk 9 and the adjacent wall 19, whereby air is sucked by injection action from the inlet 8 through the jet and supplied to the first stage.

Having described the method of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination with a compressor having an inlet and an outlet conduit, of means for regulating the supply of gaseous material throu h the inlet conduit, comprising an adjusta le valve means in said inlet conduit, a jet apparatus, and means for supplying compressed gas to said jet apparatus, said valve means in a certain position and a Wall of the inlet conduit defining a jet for said jet apparatus.

2. The combination with a compressor having an inlet and an outlet CODdIllt, of means for regulating the supply of gaseous material through the inlet conduit, comprising a butterfly valve in said inlet conduit, a jet formed near closing position of said butterfly valve by the latter and a wall of the inlet conduit, and means comprising a conduit and a nozzle for supplying compressed gas to said jet.

3. The combination with a compressor having an inlet and an outlet conduit, of means for regulating the supply of gaseous material through the inlet conduit, comprising a butterfly valve in the inlet conduit, a collecting chamber, means for su plying compressed gas through said col ecting chamber to the first stage, a by-pass for supplying compressed gas from one of the higher stages to the inlet conduit, means for regulating the gas supply through the by-pass, nozzles receiving gas from the by-pass and delivering it to the inlet conduit, said butterfly valve with a part of the wall of said inlet conduit defining a regulatable jet through which the compressed air is delivered by said nozzles.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

BRUNO HOFFMANN. 

